Did you know that 'carnival' is actually Italian?

'Carnival' is a word borrowed from Italian 'carnevale'. The word entered the English language some time around 1549.

carnival [noun] [1549]

• a season or festival of merrymaking before Lent
• an instance of merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading
• an instance of riotous excess
• a traveling enterprise offering amusements

See 'carnival' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Italian.

Etymology: Italian 'carnevale' alteration of earlier 'carnelevare' literally, removal of meat, from 'carne' flesh (from Latin 'carn-, caro') + 'levare' to remove, from Latin, to raise

See more loan words from 1500s.